Electric railway-signal.



Nm 802,584. Mmmm om?. 24, 1905 E, W.. Mmmm.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY SXGNAL.

APrLIoATIoN FILED mn. so. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

@u u@ n Ko@ @Dvi ha Los eo y No. 802.5%. PATLNTLD 0613.24, 1905.. L. W. LAGGULLL, ELECTRIC RAILWAY SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 30. 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Stimmung@ ELWGOD W. MCGUIRE, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY-SIGNAL..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten oet. 24, 1905.

Application filed March 30, 1905. Serial No. 252,804.

To {LZZ who/1L t may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELwooD W. MCGUIEE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Richmond, in the county of' Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Railway-Signals, of' which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to asignal system for railways.

The object of my invention is to provide a signal system actuated by a traveling car, whereby the traveling car-say going westw through a series of contacts and terminals will control a signal-switeh instrument at a predetermined advanced position, whereas l when a car coming in the opposite directionsay going east-*reaches such predetermined advanced position it will receive a signal indicating the condition of the track, also when the west-bound car reaches such signal-receiving position it will automatically throw out such signal if but one car has passed the switclrsignal-operating terminals; but it' a second or more cars have passed the signal-switch-operating terminals the signal-circuit will not be broken until all of' the cars have passed over the signal-breaking terminals. It is to be understood that there is a first partial circuit, forming when closed a switch-operating circuit, having a first set of open terminals in a given track-section. There is a signal actuated by the closingof a second or signal-operating circuit. This second circuit has a second set of open terminals located at a suitable distance from the first terminals to signal a car traveling in the opposite direction from the car operating the first set of terminals. This second circuit also has a normally open switch closed by the electric impulse transmitted through the first circuit when the first terminals are closed. Preferably there is a locking mechanism for automatically engaging the switch when it is moved to closed position and retaining it closed. whereby a car contacting and closing the second terminals will receive a signal for a givenv time after the oppositely-trav'eliug car has passed over the firstterminals. There is then a third circuit having a third set of open terminals located adjacent to the second set of terminals and mechanism actuated by the electric impulse transmitted through the third circuit when closed for releasing the locked switch of the second circuit, rendering it impossible for a carto receive a signal from the second terminals until the switch has again been closed by a car contacting the first terminals and closing the first circuit. This system is substantially the same as that illustrated, described, and claimed by me in a companion application, filed March 6, 1905, Serial No. 248,623.

The particular object of the present invention is to provide i switch instrument conjointly for the second or signal-operating circuit and the third orswiteh-releasing circuit, so organized that if two or vmore cars pass operatively over the first terminals before the first of' said cars has passed operatively over the third or switch-releasing terminals the successive closing of' the first or switch-oper ating circuit will impart a succession of' actuating electric impulses to the switch instru` ment, and it will require a like number of impulses through the third circuit, accomplished by a similar succession of closings of the third terminals, to restore the switch to normal or open condition. To illustrate, say a first west-going car passes over the first terminals, transmitting an electric impulse through the first circuit, which closes the switch in the second circuit, giving the switch a first step movement before the first ear reaches the third or switch-releasing terminals; a second west-going car passes over the first terminals, transmitting a second impulse through the first circuit, giving the closed switch of the second circuit a second step movement; say a third west-going car contacts the first terminals before the first car has contacted the third terminals, a third step movement will be imparted to the closed switch of' the second circuit. l/Vhen the first car reaches the third terminals, the electric impulse transmitted through the third circuit will impart a reverse step movement to the switch of' the second circuit, but not opening' said switch, the second car contactingl the third terminals will impart a second reverse step movement to the switch, and the third car will when it contacts the third terminals impart a third reverse step movement to the switch, restoring it to open condition. The effect of this is that an east-going car held up by receiving' a signal through the second circuit will receive the signal from the second terminals until all of' the west-going cars which have passed the first terminals shall have passed the third terminals, opening the signal-controlling circuit and advising the IOO motorman that the intervening section of track between the second terminals and the first terminals is free of west-going cars.

It will be observed that this instrument is a combinedswitch, switch-locking,and switchreleasing mechanism. It may be used advantageously for many electrical purposes other than signaling. Preferably this instrument is magnetically actuated.

The features of my invention are more fully set forth in the description of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of my electric signal system, illustrating two terminal sections at the eastern end of the western portion thereof. Fig. 2 is a section on line fr fr, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of one block-section, illustrating the contacts of a west-goingI car in position for operating the signal mechanism, also illustrating the contacts of an east-going car in position for receiving a signal. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating' the terminal of one section with the contacts of a west-going car in position for releasing the signal-switch mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detailed View of the instrument, illustrating a modified form of pawl-stop which limits the forward movement of the pawl, preventing the ratchet from being thrown more than one notch at a time.

In this application 1 have only shown so much of the installation and mechanism as forms a permanent part of the track system and only so much as relates to operating the signal-switch instruments and connections with signal-receiving terminals, whereby a car traveling in a given direction through contacts will actuate the instruments that are in partial circuit with the terminals either as signal-switch-operating circuits, signal-switchbreaking circuits, or signal-receiving circuits.

I have eliminated from this specification and drawings all matters relating to the signal, whether the signal be permanent and placed at the side of the track or whether the signal be upon the car, as such matters are embodied in a separate application, fully described and claimed in such separate application filed March 6, 1905. It is to be understood, however, that some signal is employed in conjunction with my present invention.

For convenience it may be assumed that the track runs east and west, and with this understanding 1 represents the north rail of the track, and 2 the south rail. It may also be assumed that the west-going car has the right of way-that is, the east-going car will take the sidings.

3 represents the westwardly-traveled portion of the east double-track section.

4 represents the westwardly-traveled portion of the west double-track section.

5 represents the eastwardly-traveled portion of the east double-track section.

6 represents the eastwardly-traveled portion of the west double-track section.

The first proposition is that the car before it leaves the westwardly-traveled portion of the east double-track section 3 will operate the signal -switch instrument at the eastwardly-traveled portion of the west doubletrack section 6, which will notify an eastwardly traveling car at a predetermined point that the west-going car has left section 3 and entered the main single-track section 7. To accomplish this I provide the following mechanism or instrumentalitiea (car-contact position being illustrated in Fig. 3:) 8 represents a terminal or rail in the section 3, and 9 represents a terminal likewise in section 3, grounded at 10, forming contact-rails for closing a partial circuit in operating the switch-signal instrument by an impulse of electric energy. From rail or terminal 8 a wire 11 runs westward and connects with a magnet-coil12. The other pole of the magnetcoil 12 communicates byv wires 13 111 to a battery 15 or source of electric supply. The opposite pole of the battery 15 is grounded at 16. 17represents an armature-lever actuated by the magnet-coil, which armature-lever is normally open, the magnet 12 being normally deenergized. The armature-lever 17 controls mechanism in connection with a switch for closing the partial circuit of the signal-switch when a stationary signal is employed or completing the partial circuit when in connection with the signal-receiving' terminals, later described. The switchis comprised of the following instrumentalities: 18 represents a shaft suitably journaled in bearings. 19 represents a notched disk fixed to rotate with said shaft. Any suitable toothed or ratchet wheel or segment is the equivalent. 20 represents a stop-lever engaging the periphery of the disk 19, said lever beingspringactuated and engaging' notches at the limit of one armature-lever movement, thereby arresting the movement of the switch-bar 21, likewise fixed to the shaft 18 and rotating' therewith. 22 23 represent right and left hand ratchet-wheels fixed to the shaft 18. 211 25 represent terminal plates adapted to he closed by the switch-bar 21 when the mechanism is actuated to the right and the circuit broken when the mechanism is actuated toward the left. 26 represents a pawl pivoted to the armature-lever 17, adapted to engage the ratchet-wheel 23 when the magnet 12 is energized, and thereby cause the switchcontrolling mechanism to be moved one notch toward the right. 27 represents a spring for normally holding the armature-lever 1T, with its pawl, free from the line of ratchet-wheel travel, so as not to come in contact therewith when the switch mechanism is being moved to theleft. The pawl 26 is also provided with aA stop for limiting the pivotal movement thereof. `When the switch 21 is closed, it completes a IOO soaeea partial circuit with the signal-receiving terminal rails in the section and through the following course: From the switch-plate 24 a wire 28 extends to the terminal rail 29 in section 6. 30 represents a second or ground terminal. Plate 25 is connected by wire 14 to .the battery 15. Thus when a car equipped with contacts closes the terminals 8 9 the circuit through the magnet-coil is completed. The mag'net attracts the armature 17, which moves the switch mechanism one notch to the right, bringing switch-bar 21 into contact with the switchplates 24 25, so that when an east-going car arrives upon terminals 29 30 of section 6 the signal-circuit will be closed` and the electric impulse throug'h said circuit will energize said circuit, operating signal mechanism upon the car, which signal mechanism may be similar to that shown in Fig. 4 of a separate application, filed March 6, 1905. Fig. 1 shows the position of the various mechanisms when a car has left section 3 westwardly and is in section 7. It is also to be understood that the apparatus or system above alluded to remains in the position set forth as long as the westgoing car remains on the main track-section 7, having passed the first terminal rails in section 3 before an east-going car has encountered the terminals, throwing' a signal in the opposite direction for the west-going' car to receive. Therefore it is to be understood that as long as a west-going car or cars may be on the single-track section 7 an east-going car in section 6 will receive its signal whenever its contacts encounter the terminals 29 30. Now assume that one west-g'oing car is in the single-track section 7 and a second car or more, as the case may be, reaches the terminals 8 9 of section 3, these cars likewise going' west, the switch-throwing mechanism, through the armature-lever 17, will be moved two steps or more toward the right, retaining' the contact with the switch-plates 24 25.

The next proposition is obvious, that the west-going car as it leaves the single-track section 7 and enters the double-track section 4 must actuate some release which will break signal-switch-operating circuitor partially actuate toward breaking when more than one car is in section 7, (the car-contact position being illustrated in Fig. 4.) This is accomplished as follows: 31 represents a terminal in the westwardly-traveled portion of the west double track section 4, which terminal is grounded by wire 31a. 32 represents a terminal having connection with the magnet 33 through wire 34, forming a partial circuit for one pole of the magnet, the opposite pole of the magnet being connected by wire 35 and branch 14 to the battery 15, which opposite pole of the battery being grounded completes the circuit when the terminals 31 32 are closed. Thus when the contacts ofthe westwardly-traveling car have passed out of the main singletrack section 7 and upon the terminals 31 32,

closing the circuit through the magnet-coil 33 and energizing said magnet, it will attract armature-lever 36, (being a duplicate of armature-lever 17. but working in the -reverse directiom) causing the pawl 37, pivoted to the armature-lever 36, to engage with the ratchet 22, rotating the switch-bar 2l one notch toward the left or one releasing-step. 39 represents a spring' for normally holding the armature-lever 36, with its pawl, away and free from the line of ratchet-wheel travel, so as not to come in contact therewith when the switch mechanism is being moved to the right, the pawl 37 being also provided with a stop for limiting the pivotal movement thereof. Thus it will be seen that when the armaturelever 17, with its pawl 26, moves the switch mechanism three notches to the right it will take three reverse steps of the armature-lever 36, with its pawl 37, to break the switchcontact. A similar system extends in the opposite direction, in which 40 represents a terminal in track-section 6, forming a companion with the grounded terminal 30. Terminal 4() has an eastwardly-extended wire 41 communicating with one end of the coil of the electromagnet 42.' The other end of the electric-magnet coil is connected by wires 43 44 to one pole of the battery 45, the opposite pole of the battery being' grounded through wire 46. 47 represents an armature-lever actuated by the magnet 42, which armature-lever is provided with a pawl 48 for actuating the switch-bar 49 to the right, said switchbar 49 being fixed to a shaft 50, which shaft carries a ratchet-wheel 51, with which the pawl 48 engages when the switch mechanism is bcing thrown to the right. 52 represents a signal-receiving terminal in section 3, forming a companion for the grounded terminal 9. Terminal 52 is connected by a wire 53 to the switchplate 54. 55 represents a switch-plate in the path of the switch-bar 49, said switch-plate 55 being connected by wire 56 and branch 44 to the battery 45. /Vhenever switch-bar 49 contacts plates 54 55, the signal-circuit will be completed by the car-contacts, closing terminals 52 and actuating' the signal. This signalswitch is broken as follows: 57 represents a magnet connected by wire 58 and branch 44 to the battery 45. The opposite pole of the magnet 57 is connected by wire 59 to the signal-breaking' circuit 60 in track-section 5. 61 represents a terminal in track section 5, grounded by wire 62.V Thus when the terminals 6() 6l are closed the magnet 57 will be energized, attracting armature-lever 63, .said armature-lever being provided with a pawl 64, adapted to engage the left-hand operating ratchet-wheel 511L (see Fig. 2) for throwing the switch-bar 49 to the left. 65 represents a notched disk fixed to rotate with the shaft 50. 66 represents a spring-actuated stop-lever and engaging the periphery of the disk 65 and adapted to engage the notches at the limit IOO of one armature-lever movement, thereby arresting the movement of the switch-bar 49 unless actuated by the armature-levers 47 or 63. 67 68 represent springs for normally holding the armature-levers 47 63, respectively, in their released position.

ln the modification shown in Fig. 5 the notched disk 19, forming the stop-plate for the ratchet-wheels 2Q 23 and the stop-lever 20, is dispensed with and the following` mechanism provided for accomplishing the same purpose: 70 represents a bar supported above the ratchet-wheel, upon which are secured the stop-lugs 7l 72, which limit the movement of the pawls 26 and 37, respectively, in their forward movement, thereby preventing the ratchet-wheels from being carried or moved any farther than their prescribed step movement in the course of instrument operation. This form has been shown merely for the purpose of illustrating more than one form of construction of the switch instrument, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to any form of structure shown herein, except in so far as specifically claimed.

Having described my invention, I claiml. An electric signal for railways, a series cf partial circuits, a series of terminals adapted to be closed by a moving car for imparting an impulse of electric energy, comprising terminals in connection with a signal-switch-operating mechanism actuated by an impulse of electric energy, a signal-switch-operating instrument at a predetermined distance in advance of the terminals, said instrument being adapted to be actuated by the intermittent movements in making and breaking its switchcircuit, signal-impulse-receiving terminals in connection with the switch of the signalswitch instrument, signal switch breaking terminals whereby the signal-switch may be broken by an impulse of electric energy, and a source of electric supply for the various circuits, substantially as described.

2. An electric signal for railways, a series of partial circuits, a series of terminals adapted to be closed by a moving car for imparting an impulse of electric energy, comprising terminals in connection with a signal-switch-operating mechanism actuated by an impulse of electric energy, a signal-switch-operating instrument at a predetermined distance in advance of the terminals, said instruments being adapted to be actuated by intermittent movements in making and breaking its switch-circuit, means for automatically retaining said switch in closed position after the controllingmagnet has become de-nergized, whereby the signal remains in operation after the brief electric impulse has been transmitted through the signal-terminal, signal-impulse-receiving terminals in connection with the switch of the signal switch instrument, and signalswitch-breaking terminals whereby the signalswitch may be broken by an im pulse of electric energy, and a source of electric supply for the various circuits, substantially as described.

' 3. An electric signal for railways, a series of partial circuits, a series of terminals adapted to be closed by a moving car for imparting an impulse of electric energy, comprising terminals in connection witha signal-switch-operating mechanism actuated by an impulse of electric energy, a signal-switch-operating-instrument at a predetermined distance in advance of the terminals, said instrument being adapted to be actuated by intermittent movements in making and breaking its switchcircuits, signal impulse-receiving terminals in connection with the switch of the signalswitch instrument, signal-switchbreaking terminals whereby the signal-switch may be broken by an impulse of electric energy, and a source of electric supply for the various circuits, substantially as described.

4'. In a signal system for a railway-track, a first, switch-operating circuit having open terminals in a given track-section, a signalactuating second circuit, having a second set of open terminals in a given track-section a predetermined distance from the first terminals, adapted to be closed by a car traveling in the opposite direction from the car which will close the first terminals, a normally open switch in said second circuit, a third switch-opening circuit, having a third set of open terminals in a given track-section a predetermined distance from the first terminals, and adapted to be closed by the car which has previously closed the first terminals, a switchclosing mechanism actuated by the electric impulse transmitted through the first circuit when closed, adapted, when a plurality of cars have passed the first terminals before the first of said cars have passed the third terminals, to impart a succession of step movements to the switch in the direction of closing, switch-opening mechanism actuated by the closing of the third terminals and adapted to impart a succession of reverse step movements to the switch in the direction of openings, as the terminals of the third circuit are successively operated, whereby it takes the same number of impulses to open said switch as has been imparted to it in closing, a source of electricity for said circuits, and car-contacts for closing said terminals, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ELVOOD XV. `iNIcGrUIRE.

Witnesses:

' OLivER B. KAIsER, Luo ODoNNnLL.

IOO 

